The OBV Trend Bands indicator leverages On-Balance Volume (OBV) to assess trend strength and potential reversals by plotting a dynamic median line alongside upper and lower bands based on standard deviation. This tool helps traders identify overbought or oversold conditions and visualize OBV momentum relative to historical trends.
🔶 CALCULATION
The indicator calculates OBV, a dynamic median of OBV, and standard deviation bands to measure volume-driven momentum: • OBV: Cumulative volume that adds or subtracts based on price direction. • Aggregate Median: A smoothed median of OBV over a user-defined lookback period, adjusted by a minimum lookback for robustness. • Standard Deviation Bands: Upper and lower bands derived from the scaled aggregate median, adjusted by a multiplier. • Scaled OBV: OBV divided by a customizable scaling factor for better visualization.
Formula: • OBV = Cumulative sum of volume (positive if price increases, negative if price decreases) • Aggregate Median = Average of simple medians over a range from minLookbackPeriod to length • Upper Band = Aggregate Median / Scaling Factor + StdMultiplier * StdDev • Lower Band = Aggregate Median / Scaling Factor - StdMultiplier * StdDev
🔶 DETAILS
Visual Features: • OBV Line (Dynamic Color): Plotted with a color that shifts based on its position—green above the upper band (bullish), red below the lower band (bearish), and white between bands (neutral). • Upper Band (Green): Represents the overbought threshold, lightly shaded for clarity. • Lower Band (Red): Indicates the oversold threshold, also lightly shaded. • Aggregate Median Line (Gray): Acts as the central trend reference. • Fill Areas: Transparent green fill when OBV exceeds the upper band, transparent red fill when below the lower band, and no fill within the bands.
Interpretation: • Bullish Signal: OBV rises above the upper band, suggesting strong buying pressure and potential trend continuation. • Bearish Signal: OBV falls below the lower band, indicating selling pressure and possible trend weakness. • Neutral Zone: OBV between bands reflects consolidation or indecision in the market.
🔶 EXAMPLES
The chart demonstrates: • Bullish Momentum: OBV crosses above the upper band with a green line and fill, signaling robust accumulation.
• Bearish Momentum: OBV drops below the lower band with a red line and fill, indicating distribution or selling pressure.
• Reversal Points: Transitions of OBV from below the lower band to above the upper band (or vice versa) suggest potential trend shifts.
Example Snapshots: • A sustained bullish phase where OBV remains above the upper band with consistent green coloring. • A bearish trend change where OBV falls below the upper band hinting at weakening momentum leading to a change in trend.
🔶 SETTINGS
Customization Options: • Median Length (Default: 100): Adjusts the period for calculating the aggregate median, tailoring trend sensitivity. • Minimum Lookback Period (Default: 30): Sets the shortest period for median aggregation, refining responsiveness. • Standard Deviation Multiplier (Default: 1.0): Controls the width of the bands—higher values widen them, lower values tighten them. • Scaling Factor (Default: 100,000): Scales OBV for better chart readability, adjustable based on asset volume.
The OBV Trend Bands indicator is a versatile tool for traders, blending volume analysis with statistical boundaries to effectively pinpoint market extremes and momentum shifts.